Clarets v Hornets Match Preview
Clarets Mad - Clarets v Hornets Match Preview.
Venue: Turf Moor, Harry Potts Way, Burnley, BB10 4BX.
Kick-off – 20.00 – Tuesday, 14th February 2023.
Slaven Bilic’s consistently inconsistent Watford are the visitors for tonight's Championship game at Turf Moor. Vincent Kompany’s team will be seeking an eleventh consecutive win following Saturday’s 3-0 drubbing of local rivals Preston North End. The Hornets drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers on Saturday playing at home at Vicarage Road.
There is a little twist to tonight’s game however, Watford with an away win tonight would be the first team to do the double over the Clarets this season following their narrow 1-0 win at Vicarage Road back on August 12th, 2022. It is obvious that since that Friday night fixture Vincent Kompany has provided Burnley with a vastly superior squad to the Hornets and has given the very best of coaching advice to his team from what is obviously a pure footballing brain. VK seems to have discovered the ability to shift the outcome of a game on his own terms.
I am not suggesting for one moment he will pick this team but such is the strength of his squad he could select this starting eleven tonight: Bailey Peacock Farrell, Vitinho, Beyer, Al-Dakhil, Taylor, Cork, Cullen, Twine, Obafemi, Foster and Churlinov and still have a bench containing a pick from Muric, Tella, Barnes, Benson, Brownhill, Zaroury, Gudmundsson, Roberts, Rodriguez, Bastien, Roberts, Ekdal and Maatsen. With such a pool of proven talent available it really is no wonder the Clarets are running away with the Championship.
One’s to watch: The highly rated pairing of Ismail Sarr and Joao Pedro have the ability to cause the Clarets defence a tricky evening, whether or not the arduous coach trip up the M6 after a tough Saturday against Blackburn Rovers will prove detrimental remains to be seen.
I refer constantly to the fact that goals for the Clarets goals are coming from just about every quarter and with Nathan Tella in irrepressible form it’s difficult to see how Burnley will not be adding to their goal tally tonight.
Verdict: A vocal home crowd, a long Tuesday afternoon trip up North from Watford and a rampant Clarets squad will I think prove to be too much for the Hornets, and I predict a comfortable 4-1 home win with sweet revenge gained for the loss in Hertfordshire back in August.
Footnote: Both teams are looking for an immediate return to the English Premier League following their joint relegation last season. Burnley appear to be almost there, the Hornets will no doubt be looking for a valuable away win to keep them in contention for a play-off place. It should make for a highly entertaining evening at Turf moor tonight.
An opinion and post from The Editor’s Chair – Clarets Mad.
Attachment 23507
